The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks, represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. Famed for their unmatched international success, the All Blacks are considered to be one of the most successful sports teams in human history.
Rugby union is the unofficial national sport of New Zealand. The men's national team, the All Blacks, is currently ranked the third best national rugby team in the world. The sport has been known in New Zealand since 1870. The top domestic competitions are the professional National Provincial Championship and amateur Heartland Championship, and above them Super Rugby, in which New Zealand has five franchises. The country co-hosted and won the first ever Rugby World Cup in 1987, and hosted and won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The men have won three World Cups, tied with South Africa, the most of any other country. They are also the current World Champions in rugby sevens for men and women.
The Māori All Blacks, previously called the New Zealand Māori, New Zealand Maoris and New Zealand Natives, are a rugby union team from New Zealand. They are a representative team of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and a prerequisite for playing is that the player has Māori whakapapa (genealogy). In the past this rule was not strictly applied; non–Māori players who looked Māori were often selected in the team. These included a few Pacific island players and a couple of African descent. Today all players have their ancestry verified before selection in the team.
The 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team was a New Zealand rugby union team that toured Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in 1888 and 1889. It mostly comprised players of Māori ancestry, but also included some Pākehā. A wholly private endeavour, the tour was not under the auspices of any official rugby authority; it was organised by New Zealand international player Joseph Warbrick, promoted by public servant Thomas Eyton, and managed by James Scott, a publican. The Natives were the first New Zealand team to perform a haka, and also the first to wear all black. They played 107 rugby matches during the tour, as well as a small number of Victorian Rules football and association football matches in Australia. Having made a significant impact on the development of New Zealand rugby, the Natives were inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2008.
Joseph Astbury Warbrick was a Māori rugby union player who represented New Zealand on their 1884 tour to Australia and later captained the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team that embarked on a 107-match tour of New Zealand, Australia, and the British Isles.
Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison, also known as Tom Ellison or Tamati Erihana was a New Zealand rugby union player and lawyer. He led the first New Zealand representative rugby team organised by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) on their 1893 tour of Australia. Ellison also played in the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team on their epic 107-match tour, scoring 113 points, and 43 tries with the side.
John Hoani Macdonald was a New Zealand sportsman. He competed in rowing at the 1930 Empire Games, winning gold in the coxed fours, and at the 1932 Summer Olympics, becoming one of the first two Māori Olympians. He played rugby union for New Zealand Māori from 1926 to 1935 and professional rugby league in England from 1935 to 1939. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and played rugby union for New Zealand Services and England Services sides. He also played tennis for the Royal New Zealand Air Force team in armed forces matches at Wimbledon. He was inducted into the Māori Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Henry "Harry" Collinge Speakman was an English rugby union utility back who played club rugby for Runcorn. Although never capped at international level in his own country, in 1888 Speakman was chosen to tour New Zealand and Australia as part of the first British Isles team. Speakman later settled in Australia and played rugby for the several local teams as well as being selected to play for Queensland.
Patrick Keogh, also known as Pat Keogh or Paddy Keogh, was a New Zealand rugby union footballer who toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team. Playing at half-back, Keogh was considered the star player on the tour, which was the first by a Southern Hemisphere team to the British Isles. He played in at least 70 of the team's 107 matches in the British Isles, Australia and New Zealand. After playing for Dunedin club Kaikorai from 1884, he was selected to represent his province of Otago from 1887, and played for them against the touring British Isles team in 1888. By this time Keogh had established himself as the outstanding half-back in New Zealand, and he was approached by Joe Warbrick to tour with the Native team in mid-1888.
Edward Elsmere Montgomery McCausland, was an Australian born sportsperson who as a rugby footballer toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team. The touring party played predominantly rugby union, but also a small number of association football and Victorian rules football matches. McCausland was also a cricketer of note and is recorded to have represented Wellington in a First-class match.
Arthur Warbrick, was a New Zealand sportsperson who as a rugby footballer toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team. The touring party played a variety of football games, including rugby union, association football and Victorian rules football. Warbrick was one of six brothers, four of whom followed Warbrick on the 1888 tour to Britain, Ireland and Australia.
David Richmond "Davy" Gage was a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team, and represented New Zealand in 1893, and once in 1896 when he captained the side.
Rugby union has a long history in New Zealand. Today, New Zealand holds tier one status with World Rugby.
George Albert Williams was a New Zealand rugby union player who toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team to the British Isles and Australia. Nicknamed "Bully", Williams was one of five non-Māori players in the Natives' side.
Riki Te Mairiki "Dick" Taiaroa was a New Zealand rugby union footballer who was a member of the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team that toured New Zealand, the British Isles, and Australia. The tour was the longest in rugby history—the team played 107 matches on tour—and Taiaroa played at least 59 matches in the British Isles and 85 in total. This was second in number only to William Elliot who played 86 matches total. Taiaroa also played provincial rugby for Wellington in 1886 and 1887, and Hawke's Bay in 1889. Outside of rugby, he was a surveyor and then farmer. He also served with the New Zealand Contingent of Mounted Rifles during the Anglo-Boer War. Taiaroa was from a prominent Māori family, and was a representative at the coronation of Edward VII and George V. In the 1949 King's Birthday Honours he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to the Māori people.
William Warbrick was a New Zealand rugby union footballer who toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team on their 107-match tour of New Zealand, Australia, and the British Isles. Playing at fullback, he was one of five Warbrick brothers who participated in the tour, which was captained and organised by his half-brother Joe.
William Thomas "Tabby" Wynyard was a rugby union footballer who toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team and the 1893 New Zealand team. He also played first-class cricket for both Wellington and Auckland.
Frederick Warbrick was a rugby union footballer who toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team on their tour of the British Isles, New Zealand, and Australia. The Natives tour was captained and organised by Fred Warbrick's brother Joe, who had played with the New Zealand team on their 1884 tour of New South Wales. Joe Warbrick eventually selected 26 players for the team, which consisted mostly of Māori or part-Māori, but also several European "Pakeha". Along with Joe and Fred there were three other Warbrick brothers in the side: Alfred, Arthur, and Billy.
William "Mother" Elliot , also known as Bill, was a New Zealand rugby union footballer who toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team. Elliot was one of five Pākehā (European) players in the predominantly Māori team, and his addition strengthened the side. Playing at half-back, he became one of the most prolific players on the tour, and appeared in at least 86 of their 107 matches in the British Isles, Australia and New Zealand. While on tour he played in all three of the internationals against England, Ireland, and Wales. When he returned from the tour he continued to play provincial rugby for Auckland, whom he represented from 1887 to 1896. Before he departed with the Natives he had twice represented Auckland against the touring British side, and had scored a try against them in the second match, a 4–0 victory for Auckland. He was initially selected for New Zealand for their 1893 tour of Australia, but was unable to secure leave from work.
The 1889 Southern Rugby Football Union season was the 16th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. This was the seventh competition for the Gardiner Challenge Cup which was awarded to the winners of the premiership. The football season lasted from May to August. Sydney University Football Club successfully defended the premiership, completing the season undefeated for the third time. During the season a number of representative matches were played. In June players were selected to represent New South Wales against a visiting intercolonial team known as the New Zealand Natives. A representative team from Victoria visited Sydney in July, while a New South Wales team visited Queensland in August.
